Der Blogger

"Enough is enough!" "This can't go on!" "This has to stop!" These were among the comments that came through the blizzard of commentary after the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Broward County. We have heard these words before.

Wanderlust

As a travel destination, Germany has never been more popular. With tourist numbers forecast to rise for an eighth consecutive year, what is the country doing right to account for its thriving visitor numbers?

Akademia

For education experts, English language lessons have proven valuable in primary schools in North Rhine-Westphalia. But the Alternative for Germany’s state parliamentary group in NRW have a rather different view.

Essen & Trinken

Police in the city of Osnabrück had to clear crowds in front of a new döner kebab shop on Tuesday, after about 150 hungry people packed the street outside, eager to get their hands on a döner for only €0.01.

Germericana

Many Americans have German ancestors — and that's also the case for actress Meghan Markle, who will be marrying Prince Harry, himself a descendant of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, a German dynasty.

Chancellor of Austria and chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ), Christian Kern shakes hands with Minister for Foreign Affairs and chairman of Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), Sebastian Kurz as Chairman of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), Heinz-Christian Strache (L) applauds on the set of Austrian Puls 4 private television station before a campaign televised debate on October 8, 2017 in Vienna.

Kern denies any knowledge of the affair but his party’s image has been badly dented, with polls pointing to a third place behind the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) and the ÖVP in the October 15th ballot.

“You have poisoned the Austrian climate with the campaigning style you’ve imported into Europe,” Kurz barked at Kern in Sunday’s televised clash.

Kern hit back, pointing to recent media reports that the ÖVP had offered money to a member of Silberstein’s team to share information about their activities.

“Don’t play the sacrificial lamb, I’ve worked with you for 15 months,” snapped the 51-year-old who swapped his job as railway chief to become chancellor in May 2016.

The smear scandal — which saw both parties sue each other last week — overshadowed most of the 60-minute debate, described by media as a “hate duel”.

The sworn rivals also fought over key issues like tax reforms and refugees.

As foreign minister, Kurz was instrumental in shutting down the so called western Balkan migrant trail and is now also pushing for the closure of the dangerous Mediterranean route.

His hardline stance helped catapult the ÖVP into pole position after he took over the reins in May and pulled the plug on the decade-long unhappy coalition with the Social Democrats.

Kern, meanwhile, has been unable to heal big rifts tearing his party apart.

Disagreements persist over how to manage a record influx of asylum-seekers and, more importantly, whether to break a major taboo and consider sharing power with the far-right FPÖ — which looks set to be part of the next coalition government.

Kultur

The German term "Heimat," often translated as "homeland," was long thought of as tacky, regressive, and even politically dubious. But since the election, German politicians across the spectrum are using it once again.

Das Kino

This month's Berlin film festival, Europe's first major cinema showcase in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein revelations, will shine a light on sexual misconduct in the industry, its director said on Tuesday.

Gesundheit

In the run-up to international World Cancer Day on Sunday, experts have said that about half of all cancer cases in Germany could be prevented by a healthier lifestyle. Across the country, around 500,000 people are diagnosed with cancer each year. But experts say things like exercise could cut this figure in half. “Movement can […]